Jason Heyward and a Few Other Reasons the Braves Will Win the NLCS

I assume that it goes without saying that the Atlanta Braves are the best team in the National League.

I assume also that I would be correct in saying that the Braves are the favorite for the World Series this season, so I am going to go ahead and say it now:

The Braves are going to win the World Series.

The evidence pointing towards it makes it nearly inevitable; you no longer need to wait until the end of October for the results.

Proceed to the following slides for the evidence I guaranteed, and you, too, will soon be convinced.

Postseason Veterans

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These Braves are used to the postseason. None of them have played as a Brave in the playoffs (if only Chipper were healthy), but in the end it's mostly the experience that counts.

Billy Wagner, their closer, has contributed to seven postseason wins on his previous teams, the Mets and the Astros.

Derrek Lee has a .267 batting average in 5 series in the postseason. He won the World Series with the Marlins back in 2003.

Tim Hudson has a 3.97 ERA in 5 series in the postseason.

Derek Lowe has pitched 83 innings in the postseason, compiling a 5-5 record and a 3.33 ERA.

Troy Glaus has a .338 BA in 74 at-bats in the postseason.

Stats Leaders

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ATLANTA - AUGUST 31: Martin Prado #14 of the Atlanta Braves hits a single to right field in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Turner Field on August 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Martin Prado currently stands in the top five for batting average leaders in the NL.

Prado has had an amazing season. Before this year he was only a backup play; however, being the incredible backup he was, he quickly jumped to a position as a starter, and then to the Braves leadoff hitter.

Prado currently sits in the top five spots also in hits, runs, and doubles.

Aside from having the fourth-most saves of all time, Billy Wagner also is in the top five for saves this season. Wagner is 39 years old, and this is his final season in the MLB.

It appears to be a good one.

Stats Leaders, Cont.

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ATLANTA - AUGUST 31: Omar Infante #4 of the Atlanta Braves against the New York Mets at Turner Field on August 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Another possible BA leader is Omar Infante, though for him, it is a strange case.

As a backup player for the first half of the season, his batting average continuously sat in the low-to-mid .300's. Though when Prado became injured and sent to the DL, Infante was needed as a temporary starter.

Then Chipper Jones was out for the season, and Infante's starting position became permanent. As a starter, his batting average was high all the same.

It currently hovers around the .340 mark, and this is first in the league with the minor drawback on not qualifying for lack of at-bats.

But according to recent calculations, Infante needs only four at-bats and 1.5 hits per game, and from there, as many hitless at-bats as needed can be added and Infante will then win the batting title.

Throughout the season, Tim Hudson has jumped on and off ballots for the Cy Young, and he currently stands about third.

He is in the top five for both wins and ERA in the NL after a strong recovery from Tommy John surgery last year.

All-Star Game

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ATLANTA - JULY 15: Brian McCann #16 of the Atlanta Braves against the Milwaukee Brewers at Turner Field on July 15, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The list of Braves in the 2010 All-Star game goes as such:

Jason Heyward-- Became the youngest player voted to start in the All-Star game since Ken Griffey, Jr.

Martin Prado-- Starting second baseman

Brian McCann-- Awarded All-Star game MVP for a three-RBI double, which won the game for the NL.

Omar Infante

Tim Hudson

Billy Wagner

Manager

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 11: Manager Bobby Cox #6 of the Atlanta Braves argues with third base umpire Fieldin Culbreth as to whether Michael Bourn of the Houston Astros was safe as he stole third base at Minute Maid Park on August 11, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (P

Bobby Cox has managed the Braves for 25 total seasons, and took them to the postseason for 13 of them.

This season will be his last as a manager, but it might be his best.

He may be going on earning the manager of the year award for his fourth time.

He will leave the game of baseball with his name quite high up for wins as a manager, and also for ejections.

Jason Heyward

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ATLANTA - JULY 15: Jason Heyward #22 of the Atlanta Braves against the Milwaukee Brewers at Turner Field on July 15, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

If Jason Heyward didn't play for the Braves, they would currently be a few games behind the Phillies.

This is owed to the fact that Heyward has provided his team with five walk-offs this season.

He has been the top candidate for Rookie of the Year most of this season, and quite deserves it.

Along with his 16 home runs and 65 RBIs, he is hitting .281 and he leads the Braves in OBP.

Quite impressive, isn't it, for a 21-year-old?

Everyone Else

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 10: Brooks Conrad #26 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Alex Gonzalez #2 after hitting a two run home run in the ninth inning against Matt Lindstrom of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas.

As you can see, it it is due to many different factors that the Braves are currently leading the NL East.

But it is not only these players who have contributed; the Braves could not be in this position without all of their incredible backups and reserves (Conrad, Hinske, Ross, etc.).

They also have an incredible starting rotation and bullpen, possibly the best in the NL.

If all these people continue to perform as they have been, I do believe the Braves will win the World Series.